Coker was surprised at first, because it was the team's lone off day and it was 10 p.m., rather late for players to be scouting opponents.

But the more he thought about it, the more the scene seemed to make sense.

"It was no accident," Coker said. "With good talent and good preparation, good things happen."

Miami's defense has done plenty of good things this season, most notably the last-minute interception against Boston College that preserved a victory.

The defense might even be the best in school history. It certainly has played a significant role in putting the top-ranked Hurricanes in position to play for the national championship. And it will get a big test Saturday when Miami (9-0) plays host to No. 12 Washington (8-2) at the Orange Bowl.

"We can't force things," Huskies quarterback Cody Pickett said. "We'll go down there and take what they give us."

That might not be much. The Hurricanes have dominated offenses all season, accomplishing things their more heralded predecessors - including players like Jessie Armstead, Micheal Barrow, Bennie Blades, Cortez Kennedy, Ray Lewis, Russell Maryland and Warren Sapp - never did.

Miami has the nation's best scoring defense at 8.0 points per game. The Hurricanes, who have allowed 72 points with two games remaining, are on pace to break the school and Big East record.

The Hurricanes have three shutouts, including last Saturday's 59-0 victory against Syracuse. The last time the Hurricanes had more than two shutouts was 1956.

They have an opportunity to become the first defense in school history to hold eight opponents under double-digit scoring.

The Hurricanes have done that seven times this season, matching the 1983 and 1988 defenses.

"They're very comparable to the days of Cortez, Russell and Warren," Syracuse coach Paul Pasqualoni said. "I don't know how many teams in America have that kind of defense."

Maybe none. The Hurricanes have given up a nation-best 10 touchdowns this season. Miami also is the only team allowing less than 10 points a game. Nebraska is next at 11.5.

"They have a lot of guys that are going to be playing on Sundays," West Virginia coach Rich Rodriguez said. "They're not out of position often and, when they are, they have the speed to make up for it."

Coker said Miami's defense keeps getting better, mainly because the players are starting to feel comfortable with Shannon's new defensive scheme. Coker brought Shannon over from the Miami Dolphins, where he spent three seasons as a defensive assistant.

Under Shannon, the Hurricanes rank third in the nation in pass defense at 138.3 yards per game and have allowed just five touchdown passes. They are equally strong against the run despite having no senior starters in the front seven.

Only West Virginia's Avon Cobourne has rushed for more than 100 yards against Miami this season.

"People don't realize how good we are because of our offense," cornerback Markese Fitzgerald said. "But we don't complain about that. We know how good we are."

They also know how to get better, and sometimes it means a few extra tape sessions during off days.

"We've been increasingly getting better on defense as the year progressed," Coker said.

"The scheme now is really starting to take hold, and the players are starting to believe in it and know that they can make plays."